Each year, millions of Amer­icans take a break from their busy lives and sit down with the people they love for a Thanksgiving dinner. Anyone who has been at one of these gatherings knows that it can be a memorable experience.

The Thanksgiving holiday was created in the United States in 1863, in part because of the efforts of President Abraham Lincoln to foster unity and gratitude among the American people during the Civil War. It officially became a nationally observed holiday in 1941.

Thanksgiving reminds us to be thankful for what we have. Science proves that being thankful improves your physical and mental health, increases empathy, reduces aggression, improves sleep, increases self-esteem and your mental fortitude. Studies have also shown that those who express gratitude experience less stress and are happier than those who do not.

Thinking beyond the holiday itself, are there ways we can more effectively embrace gratitude the rest of the year?

Religion and belief in God have been shown to play a vital role in how grateful you are. According to a 2014 Pew Research study, which focused on whether poll participants felt a powerful sense of gratitude on a weekly basis, there was a 22 percent gap between those who believed in God (80 percent felt thankful) and those who did not (58 percent were thankful).

The Bible has a lot to say about how to cultivate a thankful mindset. I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you.”

By being thankful for all that we have, we are obeying a direct command from God, and it is also a way to honor Him. Considering thankfulness from God’s perspective is vital.

There are simple, practical ways—backed by Scripture—to become more thankful every day. This article will cover five of them.

(1) Focus on the Positive

We all sometimes tend to feel like the world is out to get us. Negative thoughts have a way of dominating our thinking.

A key to becoming more thankful is finding ways to shift the focus from the negative to the positive. Finding the unseen benefit in various situations can help you learn from the experience.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report.

This flies in the face of the world we live in and the prevalent “me first” mentality. Navigating daily life and fulfilling this scripture can be a challenge. But if you focus on the good that happens throughout your day, you will become more positive. The simple act of someone letting you into traffic during your morning commute and waving with a smile is something you can appreciate.

A first step is to dwell on what you have rather than what you lack. The news is littered with examples of billionaires and celebrities who never seem happy and settled. They seem to always want more. Thinking about and reflecting on the many blessings you have daily can help you establish a new pattern of thankfulness in your life.

Writing down and capturing what you are thankful for is a big step towards having a more positive outlook every day. Counting your blessings will keep them at the front of your thoughts, not buried in a sea of negativity that you see in the world around you.

A handwritten list in a journal is an effective way to keep these things in mind. If you are more technologically minded, you can use the notes app on your smartphone to keep your list.

(2) Use Thankfulness Cues

In my home, we created a wall of family photos from several generations back. When we sit down to have a conversation or watch a movie, we are reminded of relatives who have passed away—a way to feel gratitude for the people who have shaped our lives and the legacy they left behind. This is an example of a thankfulness cue, and we can all use them in various forms in our homes and workplaces.

The benefit of thankfulness cues is that they trigger mindfulness toward what we should be grateful for in our lives.

I have my father’s baseball glove that he used when he was a pitcher in the 1930s. It reminds me of him and makes me thankful for all the time that I was able to spend with him playing catch in the yard growing up. Our son has class photos and yearbooks from each year in school. They remind him of classmates and teachers. There are many more examples that I could list here.

Think about thankfulness cues you could use in your life: A photo of a loved one, a memento from a place you used to live or visited on a trip, a quote that inspires you—the possibilities are endless.

Another cue that we can use to help us be more thankful is the physical environment we are in.

If you live close to beautiful natural locations, they can be a trigger to set your mind on gratitude. Places like exquisite gardens and rustic hiking trails present opportunities to focus on God’s Creation and your appreciation for it.

You can also use your home as an environment for thankfulness. A quiet room with a comfortable chair, a pleasant view of your backyard and a hot cup of herbal tea may be all you need to get into a gratitude mindset.

Using cues and designating specific times and places to be thankful will help us fulfill Psalm 100:4. God commands us to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”

(3) Use Thankfulness in Prayer

Gratitude should be a major focus of your prayer life. Be specific and thank God for each blessing that comes to mind.

Ephesians 5:20 shows we should be “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The phrase “all things” can mean all, any, every, the whole. We should thank God for big things, but also the small details of what He does for us.

Every time we go to God in prayer, it is important to add an element of thankfulness and gratitude. By doing so, we build a habit that we can repeat each time we pray. Gratitude in your prayers will become like second nature.

Take the list we discussed earlier of the things you are thankful for with you when you pray. It will help you immensely to keep all those things in mind and include specifics when talking to God.

For example, we can thank God for our loved ones. Ephesians 1 says, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (vs. 15-16).

Reviewing the book of Psalms is a great source of inspiration for all that God does for us. Various psalms show how much and how often we should show thanks to our Creator God.

Psalm 103 is a great place to start. It lists many of God’s benefits in our lives. David wrote, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (vs. 1-5).

(4) Express Gratitude to Others

A big step toward becoming more thankful is to recognize the role that others play in your life. We all have friends, coworkers and relatives that always seem to “deliver the goods” when the time comes, time after time. Do you remember to express gratitude to them for what they did for you?

I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do.” Showing gratitude to others and letting them know how much you appreciate what they did for you is a great way to “comfort” and “edify” your loved ones.

A first step is to simply say “thank you.” This can be verbal, or take the form of a thank you note. This can make a big impression.

Making a habit of saying thank you will make you a more thankful person, and it will make your friends and family feel good.

(5) Adjust Your Perspective During Tough Times

Finding the good in demanding situations is a powerful way to forge a thankful mindset. The Bible refers to these situations as “trials.”

A trial is a process of testing one’s faith in God and character when confronted with a difficult situation. When a trial strikes, it is easy to focus on pain and frustration, but consciously shifting your perspective can turn suffering into growth. It will also increase your gratitude for what you have.

James 1 illustrates what a Christian’s mindset should be during adversity: “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” (vs. 2, New Living Translation). Part of this “great joy” can come from remembering to be thankful.

How we perceive challenges shapes our reactions. While your initial response may be negative, deliberately seeking the hidden opportunities or lessons in a challenge allows for a more constructive approach. This shift helps you regain control and purpose instead of feeling overwhelmed.

Trials often hold valuable lessons that only become clear after reflection. A job setback might teach patience or adaptability. Personal loss may reveal emotional resilience or deepen your appreciation for relationships that you have. Every adversity, when viewed as an opportunity to grow, can become a teacher.

Gratitude is a powerful cure for a negative outlook. When you look for blessings in tough times, you start to see that your life is not defined by trials and hardships. A challenging situation may bring out kindness, open new opportunities or strengthen your character in other ways.

Finding things to be thankful for during challenging times in our lives is one of the most difficult things to do. But in Romans 5:3-5, the apostle Paul tells us trials work “patience,” “experience,” and “hope” in those who believe God’s words. Be thankful for the spiritual lessons of adversity.

Make Thankfulness a Habit

Beyond the excitement of Thanksgiving Day, the football games and the shopping trips, there lies a mindset that, when applied in your life, will help you to be more thankful every day.

Do not limit your thankfulness to one holiday or time of year. Use the annual Thanksgiving holiday to jumpstart a spirit of gratitude every day going forward. Remember that God wants you to give thanks “in everything” (I Thes. 5:18).

Take advantage of the five practical tips in this article. By focusing on positivity, using cues, giving thanks in prayer, expressing gratitude to others and keeping hold of this mindset even in difficult times, you will become a more thankful person.